Systematic analysis of the expression profile of non-coding RNAs involved in ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice using RNA sequencing

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious disease characterized by a rapid decline in renal function and has an unacceptably high mortality rate with no effective treatment beyond supportive care. AKI can be induced by many factors such as ischemia/reperfusion (IR), sepsis, and drug-induced nephrotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanisms of AKI are poorly understood. A non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a RNA molecule that is not translated into a protein. NcRNAs play multiple roles in cellular processes, and mutations or imbalances of these molecules within the body can cause a variety of diseases. Although growing evidence has supported the key role of ncRNAs in AKI, the specific mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, the second-generation gene sequencing was performed to investigate the expression patterns of ncRNAs, including microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, in the kidneys of mice subjected to IR-induced AKI. This information will contribute to future research of the mechanism of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of AKI and facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets of ncRNAs.